Peter: It can be hereditary, and in her case, it likely is - her father most likely has it, though he also has something else. "Disease" is not quite the right term for what we're dealing with, though. DOYD of "good" diagnosis.

Blood tests and DNA were not relevant in finding the diagnosis, though DNA may be tangentially relevant if indeed the condition is hereditary.

Is this autobiographical? Is it a 'good' diagnosis because she and her family now know what is wrong, where they didn't before? Is it something unexpected, because rare? (When I had an appendix, it was on the wrong side of my body. Since it was asymptomatic, I never realized this, and it was only discovered when I was being operated on for something else.) Anything similar to that?

Is it a 'good' diagnosis because she and her family now know what is wrong, where they didn't before? Exactly!

Is it something unexpected, because rare? (When I had an appendix, it was on the wrong side of my body. Ooh, poor kitteh!! *huggles Soli*

Since it was asymptomatic, I never realized this, and it was only discovered when I was being operated on for something else.) Anything similar to that? Eep, that must have been scary. No operations or physical procedures were involved in the discovery. As for rarity...it's diagnosed at a rate of two to six per one thousand in the US, I can't speak for other countries. HINT: If I'd been born a generation later (or even just a few years later) than I was, it likely would have been spotted MUCH faster.

At the time of diagnosis, were you a child? or adult? Adult - this happened only a couple weeks ago, actually.

Were you relieved because you were afraid that it was something else? Yope Or were you relieved because it meant that you were eligible for certain services? Well, not any that I'm not already eligible for - I have epilepsy, too

Was your family not relieved because one or more of your relatives were afraid that one of their children would have Aspergers? That's not it

Did they google Aspergers, as I did, and think, "Yikes, I've got it too!" as I did? No - except for my dad (the one I potentially inherited it from)

....because I have terrible handwriting, frequently use formal language, and have rather strange interests (lateral puzzling). hehehe

Of course, my husband has these symptoms much worse than I do. ;-> But think about our poor children! I shall think of teh Soli-kittuns...there is a genetic component to Asperger's, though what it is hasn't been completely isolated yet, but it seems to be passed solely through the father

I know that at one time autism-spectrum conditions like Aspergers were blamed on poor parenting. But I'd imagine this is NOT the reason, since you were diagnosed after this had long been debunked, right?

Did your family hope that you would outgrow all of your social differences, whereas after the diagnosis they had to accept it would be "permanent" (which is probably not necessarily true, BTW)?

Was your family regretful that you hadn't been diagnosed when younger?

I know that at one time autism-spectrum conditions like Aspergers were blamed on poor parenting. But I'd imagine this is NOT the reason, since you were diagnosed after this had long been debunked, right? True, although I wouldn't say my dad will be winning any dad of the year awards anytime soon. xD

Did your family hope that you would outgrow all of your social differences, whereas after the diagnosis they had to accept it would be "permanent" (which is probably not necessarily true, BTW)? This is part of it,

Was your family regretful that you hadn't been diagnosed when younger? and this is part of it too, although not all.

True, although I wouldn't say my dad will be winning any dad of the year awards anytime soon. xD

Aww, sorry to hear that.

Did their reaction have to do with what prompted you to get the diagnosis? the prospects for what could be done about it? the fact that someone else missed it before who should have noticed what was going on?

Did their reaction have to do with what prompted you to get the diagnosis? somewhat the prospects for what could be done about it? some of this the fact that someone else missed it before who should have noticed what was going on? the only one with anything close to this reaction has been my granddad, who thinks I'm making the whole thing up for attention *facepalm* to be specific his was "if there was something else wrong with you, why wasn't it found out before? kids these days come up with all sorts of excuses for their dramatics"

Did they think you had waited too long to try and get a diagnosis? that you were better off just seeking help for whatever your difficulties were, rather than "wasting" money trying to put a label on it?

Did they think you had waited too long to try and get a diagnosis? no that you were better off just seeking help for no whatever your difficulties were, rather than "wasting" money trying to put a label on it? but yes

You might have answered this but I can't find it. Do your family members believe Asperger's is a legitimate diagnosis? I know there are those who it equal to high-functioning, low-level autism, and even those who think it's just social awkwardness.

Were you relieved that you had a legitimate diagnosis, versus the stigmas perptuated about different behaviors? Had you been frightened of getting a different diagnosis?

You might have answered this but I can't find it. Do your family members believe Asperger's is a legitimate diagnosis? mostly, no I know there are those who it equal to high-functioning, low-level autism, and even those who think it's just social awkwardness.

Were you relieved that you had a legitimate diagnosis, versus the stigmas perpetuated about different behaviors? yes Had you been frightened of getting a different diagnosis? yes, and

***SPOILER***

Earlier this year, I finally followed my friend Michelle's suggestion and went to a counselor to talk about my issues with my dad. Not long before I finally got over my nerves and did that, though, Michelle suggested that I might have Asperger's syndrome, from what she'd observed and when I looked it up, I believed she was right. So we picked a counselor together who had a specialty in working with children/adults with ASD, and she asked me the questions used to test for Asperger's. I'm "textbook", according to her - not only did I come off as the perfect Aspie from the answers to her questions, other behaviours I exhibited before the questioning and since then have convinced her.

It's a relief to know it, and it's greatly strengthened the relationships with my friends, who now understand me better, as well as getting me some new friends among the "Dangerverse" (a Harry Potter fic-verse) fan group.

But my blood family have had mixed reactions. My dad accepts it, and I think my mum is coming around, though her initial reaction was flat denial. My aunt hasn't really spoken about it openly with me, but she's 'liked' my posts about ASD related things on Facebook. I told my uncle about it and he accepted it at face value, and my sister is interested to hear more.

However, my granddad, the self-proclaimed 'patriarch of the clan' so to speak, believes that ASD, ADHD and other similar things are made-up excuses for young people to exhibit bad behaviour, and run roughshod over their parents and elders. Twenty-eight I may be, but he's still quick to dismiss me as a dramatic, whiny bratling. I think my Grandma Phyllis (whose 83rd birthday would have been the 19th) would have been much more supportive.

Do your family members believe Asperger's is a legitimate diagnosis? mostly, no <--this should have been "mostly they just don't know enough about it", only my grandpa flat-out denies its existence, and my mum is mostly in denial that I have it.

I have the same sort of issue - I know I have some issue, but I have never been officially diagnosed with anything. Although when I was an infant, my parents were told that I possibly have Asperger's. I don't like not knowing for sure.

Oh, and I forgot to say welcome back to the forum, Kaylee. So... welcome back to the forum, Kaylee.

You could go see a counselor who has experience with Asperger's/ASD. That's what I did, and even though the diagnosis might not carry as much weight to some (since she's a psychiatrist, not a psychologist), it was still a diagnosis given by one who knows what they're talking about, straight from the diagnostic questions out of the DSM. It's a little less scary, IMO, to go to a counselor about it first.

When I looked up 'Aspergers,' I thought the symptoms were so generalized that anybody could have some of them. So that may partially account for the way your grandfather feels. Another reason is that you will always be about 2 years old to your grandparents! However, if I do have it, I think it may be an asset. Because interaction with people doesn't come naturally, I have to pay close attention and really study them, and I have to listen to them closely. I don't know whether I got it from my father or not, - if I have it - as my parents were divorced when I was little and I saw him only once after I was an adult

Oh, I forgot to say, it's very nice to meet you, Kaylee! I joined while you were on hiatus, I suppose. I'm glad you've got an official diagnosis; it really can helpt a ton. I hope your family support grows and that they take time to learn more about it. :-)